South African passport holders need a visa for Turkey — but it is the straightforward online e-Visa, with no supporting documents required. The catch is that it is single entry. Here is how it works.
Turkey is one of the easiest long-haul trips a South African traveller can plan — direct flights land in Istanbul, and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, the Aegean coast and the white terraces of Pamukkale all fit comfortably into one holiday. Before booking, the question is always the same: do South Africans need a visa for Turkey, and is the e-Visa enough? The short answer is yes, you need a visa, and the e-Visa is open to you with no supporting-document condition attached.
This guide explains, in plain language, whether South African citizens qualify for the Turkey e-Visa, how long you may stay, why the single-entry limit matters if you are pairing Turkey with the Greek islands, where the fee is shown and what happens when you land. It is written for ordinary (tourist) passport holders travelling for tourism or short business.
Because the rules and fees are set by the Turkish government and can change, treat everything below as guidance and confirm the current requirements on the official portal before you apply or travel.
⚠ Visa rules can change — always confirm current requirements on the official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa site (evisa.gov.tr) before travel. Fees and conditions below are approximate guidance, not a guarantee.
Yes. South African passport holders need a visa to enter Turkey, including for tourism — Turkey is not visa-free for South African nationals. You have two routes. Most travellers use the online e-Visa, which is issued for one month with a single entry. The alternative is a sticker visa from a Turkish mission, issued for three months with multiple entries — the better choice if one entry is not enough. Either way, arrange it before you fly.
The Turkey e-Visa is available to South African ordinary passport holders without the supporting-document condition that applies to some other nationalities: you do not need to hold a visa or residence permit from the Schengen area, the United States, the United Kingdom or Ireland to qualify. You apply on your South African passport alone, which is why the form is so short. When granted it is a single-entry e-Visa, issued for one month and permitting a stay of up to 30 days. Single entry is the part to plan around — it is used up the moment you are stamped in. The e-Visa covers tourism and short business trips only; other purposes, such as work or study, go through a Turkish mission. Passport-validity requirements are set by the portal and shown to you when you apply.
Apply only through the official Republic of Türkiye portal at evisa.gov.tr. Select South Africa as your country, enter your passport and travel details, pay the fee online by card, and receive the approved e-Visa by email as a PDF. There is no supporting visa or residence permit to upload, so most South African applicants are through the form in a few minutes. Print the e-Visa or keep it on your phone to show at check-in and immigration — the airline will want to see it before boarding you in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Avoid third-party "visa" websites that charge inflated service fees — the government site is the only official source.
For South African citizens the e-Visa is typically issued as a single-entry permit for one month, allowing a stay of up to 30 days. The fee is not published as a single flat figure — it is set by nationality and shown to you only in the application flow, so check the amount on the official site before paying, and treat any number quoted elsewhere as unreliable and marked up. If you need longer, or need to enter more than once, a Turkish mission can issue a three-month multiple-entry sticker visa instead. Always check the validity and permitted stay printed on your own approved e-Visa.
The e-Visa is usually approved quickly, often within minutes to a few hours, though it can occasionally take up to 24–48 hours. Apply at least a few days before you fly so an unexpected delay does not affect your plans — the flight from South Africa is long and normally booked well ahead, so there is rarely a reason to leave the visa until the last week. A sticker visa from a mission takes longer, typically several working days or more, so start earlier if that is your route.
For the South African e-Visa you will generally need very little: your passport, a payment card and basic travel details. There is no supporting visa or residence permit to produce. Immigration may still ask to see a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds for your stay, so keep your hotel booking and itinerary handy — that part is routine for any arrival, whatever your nationality.
On arrival in Turkey, present your passport with your approved e-Visa, printed or on your phone. Officers may ask about your hotel, length of stay and return flight. With your documents in order, clearance is usually quick. Note your entry date, and remember the permit is single entry: it is used up once you are stamped in, so a side trip out of Turkey and back needs a second e-Visa or a multiple-entry sticker visa.
The only official place to apply is the Republic of Türkiye e-Visa portal. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees.
Go to evisa.gov.tr →Yes. South African passport holders need a visa to enter Turkey. Most apply online for the e-Visa, which carries no supporting-document condition for South African nationals and is issued for one month with a single entry. A three-month multiple-entry sticker visa is available from Turkish missions if you need longer. Confirm the latest rules on evisa.gov.tr before you travel.
Yes, and with no conditions attached. Unlike some nationalities, South African ordinary passport holders do not need to hold a visa or residence permit from the Schengen area, the USA, the UK or Ireland to qualify. You apply on your South African passport alone at evisa.gov.tr.
There is no single published figure — the fee is set by nationality and shown only in the application flow on evisa.gov.tr. Treat any amount quoted on a third-party page as approximate at best and marked up, and confirm the figure on the official portal before paying.
The e-Visa for South African nationals is typically a single-entry permit issued for one month, allowing a stay of up to 30 days. Always check the validity and permitted stay printed on your own approved e-Visa.
Single entry. It is used up once you are stamped into Turkey, so if you plan to hop across to the Greek islands and come back, one e-Visa will not cover both entries. For multiple entries, Turkish missions issue a three-month multiple-entry sticker visa, arranged through the mission rather than the portal.
Do not rely on one. The e-Visa is the route to arrange before you fly, and having the PDF in hand means you walk straight to passport control. Check your own status on evisa.gov.tr rather than assuming at the airport.
Only evisa.gov.tr, the Republic of Türkiye government portal, is official. Many third-party sites look similar but charge much higher fees. Apply directly on the official site.
Once your visa is sorted, the fun part begins. Browse our most popular Turkey itineraries — Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast — or tell us what you have in mind.
3 Nights / 4 Days
4 Nights / 5 Days
5 Nights / 6 DaysIstanbul · Kusadasi · Ephesus · Pamukkale
from €625 per person
View ItineraryTell us your dates and dream itinerary — our Turkey specialists reply within hours with tailored pricing.